The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-01
A VISIT TO LINCOLN In 1860.
ATalk with the Great War President at
Is the Time of His First Election.
His Conception of Horace Greeley's I.abOrs-
Two Amusing Parables-The Election Re-
turns-A Couple Of ShOoting-Stars.

The national campaign of 1860 was remark
able, among many other things. for the circum-
stance that four presidential candidates were in
the field, each representing a devoted, il not an
equally powerful, following. AS the time for
the election approached, it was noticed that
three of these candidates happened to be re-
sididg in places widely distant from each other.
Lincoln was at his home in Springfield, H.
Bell and Breckenridge were likewise on their
avn ground, the one in Tennessee the other in
Kentucky and Douglas was sojournng in Ala
bama at some sanitary resort if l remember
correctly. Being habitualy on the watch in
those days-as every journalist is bound to be
watchful on behalf of the newspaper he belongs
to--for opportunities of enterprise and ingenu
ity, Il occurred to me that point might be
made by dispatching & special correspond
ent TO each OF the party cen
ters for the purpose of gathering all
attractive intelligence In the immediate neigh
borhood of the candidates, and particularly to
report proceedings on the day of election, includ-
ing the individual actions of the four leaders, so
far as they properly could be followed, the whole
to be telegraphed to New York and published on
the morning after the event Having arranged
the details of my scheme, laid it before Mr.
Dana. then the managing editor OF the Tribune,
and was rewarded by finding myself appointed a
few days later to visit Illinois and take charge of
that branch OF the project which most closely
concerned the Republican party. How the other
branches were disposed of was not permitted
so know. IL was not the habit of our chief to
'sxtend much confidence to his subordinates, and
and it was sufficient satisfaction for youngster
In the Office, as then was, to learn that sug-
gestion had been approved and acted upon.
without inqniriug too curionsly into the manner
AZ sko kr1 D1v,, .ls~ L. g
honor IN the little combination, and in due time
started quietly on my erran6.
The remem brance of few words spoken by
MIR. Dana, just before left, brings to mind
prevalent impression as to an expected recog-
milton of Mr. Greeley's agency in clearing the
way for Lincons nomination at Chicago. AS a
rule, correspondents of the Tribune had no
minnie instructions from its managing editor.
He knew his men pretty thoroughly. aud per-
haps foresaw the course they would be likely to
pursue In any duty assigned them; or perhaps he
held that to let a correspondent feel himself
trusted beyond the need of direct admoniton
was the surest way Of getting the best work from
him. Having usually been left to my de-
vices, it was a slight surprise to me to hear that
on this expedition was to observe one caution.
although, as it appeared the injunction was out
side the line of my employment IF Mr.. Lin
coin, or any body speaking for HMM fact any
body. no matter who-talks about Mr.. Greeley
In connection with the postmaster gen eralshp,
don't give any answer. No one must be able to
repeat word from you on that subject. If Mr..
Lincoln himself should wish to send message
don't accept it. You may take letter. anything
in writing-though IL is not likely you will be
asked to-Dut you will refuse verbal messages
from every body In reference to any such matter.
And then"
And thena"
That's ALL Good bye"
arrived in Springfield about week before
the election, on the evening of dull, rainy day.
On the morning after my arrival | called upon
innn ct 20 hA,e xrh. l.
ceived visitors In the Governors room ten
dered for his use during the campaign When
tirss spoke with him he quite alone in the
spacious apartment lent him by the Governor,
surrounded by an abatts of dsheveled news.
papers, and in comfortable occupancy of two
chars, one supporting His body the other his
heels. As he sat there. in the least stately of
attitudes, his knees drawn up to a level with
las head. and his feet rising at an angle from
the second chair to nearly equal height. my
fancy Immediately pictured him as the model
for an initial wv in an illustrated comic paper
the lines and an giles of that letter being fairly
Indicated by the several ctons and joints of
his frame. 1t was not in this light, apparently,
that / could hope for a reversal of the uu-
fortunate impression which had been forced upon
me few hours before. He received me with
the eeniality natural to him, and was pleased
to express not n little curiosity as to what had
come TO Springfield for. Learning that it was
chiefly TO write about himself and such incidents
OF the election should connect themselves
furthermore
Pleased to deprecate the whole proceeding, and
to intimate that my energies might better be
devoted to swelling the Republican vote III New
York.
But il Greeley sent you it's all right" he con-
eluded; Greeley knows best. | suppose"
] ventured to submit that Mr. Greeley proba-
bly, had no more notion of my excursion than he
Mr.. Lincoln had; and not so mrch in point of
facr, since the latter knew where l was at that
moment, which the former. presumably did not.
Whereupon he>lifted one eyebrow trfle in
crsdulously, it seemed to me-and again assured
it was ''all right
Yet a vote is a vote, he added, just q little
uuerulously; every one counts"
In the conversation that followed did not di.
late upon the confident assurance Of the mer
who make newspapers that they can be put to
better use than the mere casting of a single bal
lot, because it would evidently have been diff
cult to touch aim with that kind of arguments
but mentioned that the correspondents of New
York journals were 80 hurried about from one
place TO another that they could hardly be said
to have legal residence anywhere, aud. as in
my own case, bad no chance of registering O,
otherwise qualifying themselves to exercise the
suffrage so that, far as my power to deter
mine the result of the forthcoming election was
concerned, might as well be in Springfield, OF
in kamschatka, as on the island of Manhattan
SO, Greeley doesn't know you are here" hi
remarked, with keen glance
Why" said l. laughing, 81 have been con
nected with the Tribune for. I won't say how
long, and | never exchanged six words with
Greeley in all thestime."
That's curious thing he answered; "ther
he didn't send you after all27
b IL don't suppose he thinks OF sending out {
correspondent or cares who is sent ont at an,
time. If il would interest you I could easily ex
plain how little he concerns himself with such
matters
'Oh, no; it's all right-all right. of course"
The idea at once presented itself that he NIGH
suspect in me special emissary to obtain from
him some declaration Or expression of opinion
regarding Mr.. Greeleys prospect of Cabinet Of
other important ONCE, in which case the pro
priety OF Mr.. Danas caution on my departure
for Illinois. was obvious. But afterward adopt
ed the impression that he shared rather com
mon view loutsde OF New York and especial,
in the Vest OF Mr. Greeley's relations to tn,
Tribune, and imagined every detail OF its bust
ness to be personally directed by tina
industrious editor This ilnpressio,